Antiseizure medication Neurontin (gabapentin) may be a cause of serious birth defects. Neurontin birth defects may include cleft palate, heart defects, and spina bifida. Allegations include that the drug maker failed to warn against any potential Neurontin birth defects.

About Neurontin

Neurontin, or generic gabapentin, is primarily used to treat epilepsy in adults and children over the age of 12. Children younger than 12 years of age may be prescribed the antiseizure medication if they suffer from partial seizures. It may also treat nerve pain that can follow herpes or shingles.

Neurontin is listed as a FDA pregnancy category C medication. This means that it is unknown what the potential side effects would be on a fetus. This is because no adequate study has been performed in order to evaluate the risk of using the antiseizure medication during pregnancy.

Animal tests have suggested evidence of birth defects, but no human tests have been performed. While the drug has a long list of potential side effects for both children and adults, there is no mention of Neurontin birth defects.

Birth Defect Allegations

Category C medications should, generally, only be used by pregnant women if it is necessary. Some women may find that the benefits of managing their epilepsy or other condition during pregnancy outweighs alleged Neurontin birth defect risks.

Epileptic seizures may cause harm to the mother or unborn child if not properly treated. However, many women may not be aware that their drug use is putting their child at risk for severe birth defects.

Neurontin birth defects may include the following defects:

• Cleft palate
• Craniosynostosis (skull malformations)
• Other bone malformations
• Heart defects
• Hydroureter and/or hydronephrosis
• Hypospadias (an abnormality in the opening of the urethra in boys)
• Polydactyly (extra fingers or toes)
• Spina bifida
• Other congenital defects

Some have suggested that Neurontin and other new antiseizure medications do not increase the risk of birth defects. Even if that is true, that does not mean that Neurontin has not caused birth defects.

One study examined the birth defect rate among women who used antiseizure medication in general. The rate was 3.2 percent, which is higher than the 2.4 percent of women who give birth to children with birth defects without taking any of the medications involved in the study. Due to the small number of women who used Neurontin over a different medication, no conclusive evidence was reached concerning Neurontin birth defects.

Individuals may choose to file a Neurontin birth defect lawsuit if their child was born with a birhj defect following Neurontin use during pregnancy. The drug makers have the legal responsibility to include all potential side effects on their warning labels so that users may be completely informed about the risks involved.